Expanding hose reel



SQP 9, 94?. J. A. CRAIG EXPANDING HOSE REEL Filed Oct. 30, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet l NI/ENTOR, him-S Cra zi?.

Patented Sept. 9, 1947 EXPANDING HOSE REEL James A. Craig, Fishkill, N.Y., assigner to Jeannette Hoehne, Danbury, Conn., and Margaret Craig,Fishkill, N. Y.

Application October 30, 1940, Serial No. 363,535

14 Claims.

This invention relates to hose reels and more particularly to devicesfor enabling a flow of water from a collapsible hose While wound on areel.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved reel of this kindwhich allows the drum portion of a hose reel to decrease in diameter andpermits smooth winding of the hose thereon and to avoid kinks in thehose.

Another object of the invention is to provide anY improved reel spoke ofthis kind which yields laterally over its entire length to an increased'bulk of the hose when water is turned on.

Additional objects of the invention are to eiect simplicity andefficiency in such apparatus and `to provide an extremely simple reel ofthis kind which is economical, durable, and reliable in operation, andeconomical to manufacture and install.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described in thespecication and some of the claims,l the invention as described in thebroader claims is not limited to these, and many and Variouschanges maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed inthe broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objectsare shown herein in connection with a hose reel, which briefly stated,includes a hub rotatably mounted on an inlet pipe and having a hosecommunicating therewith. Side pieces are mounted on the ends of said huband provided with spokes having outwardly yieldable inner walls adaptedto engage the sides of the hose. The drum of the reel comprisessegmental curved plates mounted around the hub and yieldably movabletoward the axis ,of the reel, whereby the drum as well as the spokeswill yield to a flow of water through the hose wound on the reel toallow free passage of the water. Y

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of manypossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragmental elevation, showing the reel;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the reel, thesection being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows of said line;

Fig. 3 isa transverse vertical sectionalview, partly in elevation,showing the reel, the section being taken substantially on the line 3-3of Fig.

V2, looking in the direction of the arrows of said line;

Fig. 4`is a perspective view of a drum plate; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentalelevation, showing the end of a reel spoke, lookingin the direction-ofthe arrows of line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The collapsible hose reel is shown mounted on an inlet pipe II, Fig. 2,having an open free end I2 and a threaded inlet end I4 and havingthereon first and second spaced ribs I5 and I6 at the outlet portion ofthe pipe, sufficiently spaced apart to form a water passage I'I betweenthem. The pipe II is provided with a plurality of peripherally spacedlongitudinal water outlet slots I8 between said rst and second ribs orcollars I5 and I6.

An inner disk I9 is provided with a plurality of radial slots 2|) Fig. 1and has a hub 2l open toward the inlet end of the pipe and provided withan outer end wall 22 having a threaded hole 24 therein stoppered by aplug 25.- The hub is mounted around said pipe II on said ribs I5, I6 andhas an internal rib 26 engaging the outer side face of the rib I6. l

The second rib I6 and the rib 26 position the hub I9 with said wall 22spaced from the open end I2 of the pipe to form a cushioning air chamber28 therebetween to prevent water hammer.

The hub is provided with a threaded lateral warin engaging a hosecoupling 3|.

A packing ring 32 between said pipe and hub engages the outer face ofsaid first collar I5 and a packing gland 34' provided with a perforatedange 35 overhanging the outer face of said inner disk. I9 engages saidpacking ring between said pipe I l and said hub 2l to compress said ring32 to make the connection watertight. Adjustment of the gland isaccomplished by means of adjusting screws 36 in the perforations of theange 35 and engaging in holes in the inlet portion of the disk I9.

An outer side disk 38 is provided with a central boss 31 and has aplurality of radial slots 2U. The boss 31 is mounted fast on the Vouter'end of the hub 2l, The pairs of slots 20 in the inner and outer disks I9and 3B are in planes radial to the hub axis.

Composite spokes 39 mounted on said disks I9 and 38, each includes anelongated channel member 4I), Fig. 5 mounted over one of the slots, thewalls of said member being disposed inwardly and provided without-turned flanges 4I welded to the outer faces of the disks at themargins of the slots.-

A bracket 42, Fig. 2, is mounted on the inner face of the web of thechannel member 40 somewhat near the inner end thereof; and alongitudinal tension spring 44 in the channel has one end attached tosaid bracket 42, the other extending toward the center of the reel.

An inner channel shaped transversely telescoping member 45 received inthe channel member v4I), and projecting inwardly through one of theslots 20 in the-disks has its walls engaged with the walls of thechannel member 40, the

44, are loosely received in holes in the web foi the channel member 40and riveted or otherwise` secured to the web of the telescoping'fmember45 and carry compressible {springs-48' r.thereon between the webs ofsaid membersto.-render:.the inner member 45 outwardly yieldable.

The normally spaced curved segmental winding plates 49, Fig. 4,providedwith *apa'ir of `opposite outstanding ears at the mid-portionsof the sides of the plates are attached to the yinner .ends of ,pairsoil-said tension.. springs 44 fin the pairs-.vof .spokessto ormfan.-approximately cylindrical A.normally yieldable .segmental winding drum..L'I'he s'lots %2`0',..receive.the ears V-5|l,.and .'the .walls of-.saidslots .serve to guidesaid ears and thereby .to iguide the plates 49toward and away from the .hub Zl. 4-Qne .or more .of .said plates isprovided withna-.cut-out ^5.I..liigY 12.1;0 .providea .space AVfor .thepassage of 'thelhoseto allow movement of the plates near the Those.

AThe i yieldable drumsaiords aY smooth surface .for .thefhoseandlprevents kinkswhere thewindfinglradiusli's. shortest-and where .thekinks y.would 'be .most .likely to. occur. 'lhesmooth .surtacefalso.allows better slippage ofthe Yhose coilsfandfthus enablesthemtoImove'inLto-positions `where .they .o'fffer less resistance .to the'flowo'f water .through the hose. i

In `operation,when the xwater :is Aturned on whilehoseis Wound onthereel,A the .collapsed hose `swells,` -the :drum plates .yield`toward-.the`

ax'isgofthe reel and-.the inner .wallsoithefspokes yield outwardly, thus.allowing `the .hose 'to 'be .free -of constriction, -thereby .allowingsa .large stream- .of water to -^pass. :through-the hose-.and

be available beforethefrhose has'rbeen funwound.

The .segment .members "49 ncooperate: to form a 'drum of.srn1l diamteraround which Lhosamay be wound; and .theouter iace'ofsaid drum when thesegment members 49..are at .Itheir innerlimit of .movement, .as .shownby 'the'lbrokenfrlines .of Fig.' .l-,Lis o substantially Ithesameradius. :as fsaid segments, vl'iihiare Aat such rlimit coaxial with`the '.hiib .and zalmosttlin. contact .with .each other, each.segmenthavi'rg .a widthl .clrcumerential Ydirection ofapproXimate'lylSOdegrees fand, .at said inner limit, at least approximately -three `and ahalf times .as great .asQthe-.distance .betweed adjacent segments when'at said Ainner limit, and Agreat enough'inrela'tion .to the dis-/tancebetween 'segmentfmen'ibers to substantially eliminate'kink'inglthefhose at the segments. Said 'segment members provide abroadsmooth-area 'of Acontact with the hose,.\thereby to ,applyj hose.'pressureito a 'wide area of 4thesegment mem- "ber, so .that 'the usualincreaseyin Ythe hose pressure "throughout thesegment .member will be.suflicent to elongate fthe springs. Since `the 'springs' 4 4 are:tension :springs `of the jform shown, "the strength of such is sorelated "to the Vsize Lof said areas of .the segmentmembers thatthe"hose "when empty will be rmly l'held moreremote `from thehub and'whenunder water pressure will easily'moveinwardly'to allow a' large stream4'of' water4 sto. pass throughout the hose.

As "shown by `1i`g.2,'the `interspace `between opposite members .45isllarge enough 'to receive several superpos'ed flayers 'of :fire LhoseAdisposed side-:by-.side s The tension springs `'lillare' intermediatelat- -erallybenda'ble helical "springs havingrm to bend in the slots2'0, whereby each segment memf,-berf49.may tilt-substantiallyon an axispassing 'through the .inner ends fofn'ts associated springs, eachsegment member 49 being so wide in circumferential direction that theoncoming water easily tilts the member away from the hose to `avoid'pinching the hose and the resulting shock, `surge and-delayof Waterflow.

:Having thus described the invention what is zola'lmedis 1. In acollapsible hose reel having a hub; opposed side disks having aplurality of inwardly :andperipherally open radial slots and mounted oneach end portion ofsaid hub, said slots having substantially. parallel.side walls .and extending nearl'to saidlhb,pairs of-.sl'otso'ftherespec- .tive 'disks'.'being in. planes .radial to .the hubaxis;composite transversely telescoping spokes mountedinsaid slots, eachspoke includinga pair of reverse'ly nested elongatedchannelY members.extending'toward the. central .end .of said slotsfand `compression.springs between the .members ,for resisting movement of .one of saidmembers'in the Adirection away from theopposite disk; .tension Mspringsmounted in -said spokes and .hav- .ing ends extendable ftothecen'tralendsof. said slots; aplurality of drum segments substantially`parallelto the axis of said `hlibyguided'in.registering pairs of saidslots and attached tothe extendable `ends Yof vsprings associatedtherewith; whereby .when water is 'turned into .a collapsed hose Wound.on said .reel the yieldable spoke members will yield over Vtheir entirelength-.and aord .increased distance between registering spokes, and thedrum segments willtyield toward the axis .oi the reel being stopped.only, by `the central ends of 'the slots.

`2. A collapsible hose reelhaving a hub; `side disks' 'having auplura'liy oiinwardly` and peripherally .open radials'lots .and mountedon said hub, said slots havingsubstantiallylparallel 'side Walls, pairs.of slots of `the .respective disks/being in planes radial to thehub.aXis; composite spokes mounted on said disks, each .spoke includingan 'elongated channel member 'mounted over and along one. of thes10ts,'the'walls o'f said member -being disposed inwardly and 'providedwith outturned flanges mounted on the outerface of said disk and .alongthe marginalportion of.saidslot; a channel-like transversely telescoping`member s'horter'than said slots, received in said channel "member, thewallso'fthetelescoping. member engaged Ywith the walls of `the channelmember,

the webs of lsaidtelescoping member. and said f .channel member 'beingspacedfand opposite vto form `a tubular space from the periphery 'of4the disk toward the hub; a longitudinal 'tension springinsaid spaceandhaving one end attached to one of Ysaid members andthe other Aendprojecting toward .the axis .of the reel;.retaining means for 'holdingsaid `members togetherand permitting inwardly transverse telescopingmovement; compressible springs 'between'the Webseof said A members Nto'form aspoke `of zyieldably varying width; normally spaced-Windingplates curved on .a longitudinal axis 'and 'having 'Opposed nut-"standing ears s guided in -reg'isteringpairs of .said slots'andattachedpto thefcentrally directed ends 'of 'said-tension 'springstoorm 'ayieldablerwinding drum, whereby -the 'Winding drum an`d`^the,spokes will yield on the increase of bulk ofithe 'hose when 'waterislturned ion and' allow free -passage di' the `water. s

3. yA hose' 'reel comprising, 'Jin ',combination, a hub; opposed sidedisksmountedonreachend'oi said hub and providing a hose winding spacetherebetween, said disks being provided with corresponding radial slotsextending near to said hub and substantially lying in the same radialplane; receiving channel members mounted on the outer face of said disksover said slots so that the channels 'of said members are open towardsaid slots and winding space; inner channel members in said slots andtransversely telescoped in said receiving members to form tubelikespokes; means for holding the receiving and inner members in engagementfor telescoping transverse movement of the inner members in thereceiving members; drum segments traversing said space and havingprojections at each end thereof received in corresponding radial slotsfor radial movement in said slots, said. inner members being beyond theouter limit of movement of said segments, and resilient means attachedto said projections and channel members and remote from the spacebetween said segments and said hub for resisting movement of thesegments toward the hub.

4. In a collapsible hose reel, spoke mounting means on each end of thereel; composite spokes mounted on said means each spoke including anelongate outer channel piece having parallel walls and a web andprovided with wall flanges extending substantially perpendicular to the4channel piece walls and mounting the pieces on said means; an elongateinner channel'piece engaging in said outer channel piece, the webs ofsaid pieces being opposite each other, and holding means to hold the twopieces in engagement for telescoping transverse movement of said innerpiece with respect to said outer piece, whereby the two engaged piecesform a tubular spoke having a vuniformly outwardly yieldable inner wall.

' 5. In a hose reel having a hub; spoke mounting means at each end ofsaid hub; opposed sets of radial spokes disposed in parallel planes andmounted on said means to form a hose winding interspace between saidsets of spokes; each spoke comprisingva rigid channel-shaped outermember mounted fast on the mounting means and having its channel opentoward spokes of the other set; said member being rigid to prevent thespoke sets `at their outer end portions from flexing and spreading andpermitting a hose in coils to slip oil the reel; an inner spoke memberinwardly received in the channel of each outer member and having a facepresented adjacent to said interspace; the inner member being movableuniformly away from said spoke; resilient means resiliently holding theinner member in the outer member for transverse movement of the innermember in the outer member and away from said space throughout theentire length of the inner member; whereby when water is turned vinto acollapsed hose in said interspace, each of said inner members mayoutwardly move independently of the others and increase the distancebetween the inner members of one set and the inner members of theopposed set.

6. In a hose reel having a hub, spoke mounting means on each end of thehub; sets of radial spokes mounted on said means and adjacent therespective ends of said hub to form a hose winding interspace betweensaid sets of spokes; each spoke comprising a radial rigid outer membermounted on said means; a radial inner member in said outer member andhaving an inner face adjacent to said interspace, and resilient meansfor holding the inner members in engagement with ,the outer members formovement theretoward in a plane radial to said hub; Winding: drumsegments substantially parallel to the axis of said hub and traversingsaid interspace; and a pair of longitudinal radial springs attachingeach of asid segments to a pair of registering spokes, the springs beingmore lremote from the hub than is the segment whereby when Water isturned into `a collapsed hose in said interspace, each of said innermembers may outwardly move independently of .each other and increase thedistance between the inner `faces of the inner members of the opposedsets of spokes and the segments will normally yield toward the axis ofthe hub. n

7. In a collapsible hose reel, spoke mounting means on each end ci thereel; composite spokes mounted on said means, each spoke including anelongate outer channel piece having parallel walls and a web `andprovided with wall flanges extending substantiallyA perpendicular to thechannel piece walls and mounting the pieces on said means; an elongateinner channel piece engaging in said outer channel piece, the webs ofsaid pieces being opposite each other; and holding means to hold the twopieces in engagement for telescoping transverse movement oi said in-.

ner piece with respect to said outer piece, whereby the two engagedpieces form a tubular spoke having a uniformly outwardly yieldable innerwall; said holding -means being headed pins longer than the walls of thepieces loosely engaging holes -in the web ofhe outer piece and securedto the web of the. inner piece and compressible springs between andengaging the webs of said pieces. t

8. A hose reel spoke comprising an elongated outer channel member havinga web having holes therein, and side walls; a transversely telescopinginner channel-shaped member received in, and telescoping transverselyto, said channel member and having a web and side walls, the walls ofthe inner member engaging with the inner face of the walls of thechannel membenrthe walls of the inner member extending from its webtoward the web of the channel member; means for guiding the inner memberfor transverse telescoping movementI toward and from the web of thechannel member; and compressible springs mounted between the webs ofsaid members to allow the inner web to yield laterally and provide aspoke of yieldably varying width.

9. A hose reel spoke comprising an elongated outer channel member havingaV web having holes therein, and side walls; a transversely telescopinginner channel-shaped member received in said channel member and having aweb and side walls, the outer faces of the walls of the inner memberengaging with the inner faces of the walls of the channel member, thewalls of the inner member extending from its web toward the web of thechannel members; and pins transverse to said members and looselyreceived in the holes in the structure fast on each end of the hub andlying in a` plane perpendicular tothe hub axis, said structuresproviding: therebetween a space; hose engaging pieces associated withand mounted on each structure and extending in a direction outengageait.

wardiy -awayfrom saiciaxis'sin afk direction sub1 stantially parallelto'saidpianesf and-adi acent'to said space, theh pieses--loeix'rg4i'nounted'for?Y move-`b ment towardthe' -assoc-iatedstructure;thefpieces ofthe-respectivestructureeproviding'a hosewinde ing'intersp'a'ce thereietvveenl wide andL deep enough to'l receive: re hosev`l coiled thereon; said piecesbeing provided adjacent tUSaidTinterspacewith'4 continuous smooth* inner faces free'- from projections; andiresiiieznz`- means interposedf between said* pieces and2 tl'ieassociated mounting structure for yi'eidably "resisting-7 movement offthe retaining' pieces toward itliejassociated structure; and*allowingempty fire hoseL disposed: between opposite engaging pieces toexpand lateraliy- Wlien water andAV pressurev` is applied to the l hoses11'; A`- hosegreel comprising ahub-a mounting structure fastonea'chendof'sai'dihub lying in a pianeperpendi'cular to thecaxiseofsaidhub;said structures providingy an interspace therebetween;

ture,- the pieces'L at one end; of the hub bei-ng `long enough and-farenoughfromthe pieces at the other end ito'provid" an Yinterspacewide anddeep enoughto' receivesuperposed` convolutions-of re hose; saidpiecesbeing'provided va-'diacentto said interspace with continuous" smoothlfaces free from" projection and resilient means interposed betweenthehoseretaining pieces' and' the associated mounting structureforyieldab'ly resisting movement of the engaging pieces towardtheirrespective associated structures to allow fire hose in sa-idinterspaceto laterallyvexpandwhen water under pressure commences topasstherethrough.

12. A hose reel comprisinga-hub; a supporting structure mountediast-oneaoh end of saidhub, each'lying in'a-1planefperpendcular totheaxis of said-hub; said structures being remote from each other;r'e-hose-engaging piecesassociated' with and supported oneach structureand extending in planes'- perpendicular to` saidaXis; said pieces being'provided'with` continuous smooth faces, each smooth /fa-ce at one A-en'dof the hub facing toward the-faces at the other; end ofthe hubyth'epieces being'supportedon'the structures for movement toward andifrom theassociated structure, the pieces at one end of the' hub being far enoughfromV the pieces Yat theotherE end to receive superposedconvolutions ofthe fire-hose therebetween; and" resilient; means e interposedbetweenthe hose engagingA pieces andi the associated supporting structure -iorAyieldabl'y resisting' movement of the engagingpiecesat each'endfof thehub from the engagingipieces at th'ef other end offthe hubl to aiiowsaidre hose between -the engaging' pieces to laterally expandasfsoonas-water under pres'- sure commences to pass through thehose'.'

13.- A hosefreelcomprising-a hub; a supporting structure mountedfast oneach end of said hub, each-lying in a plane'substantia'ily perpendiculartofthe axisfof said hub; said structures being remote from each other;nre-hose engaging pieces associated withV ands'upp'orted on`eachstructure and extending in planes perpendicular tov said axis; saidpieces being provided with continuous smooth faces, each smooth faceatoneiend of the-hubl facingitoward-the faces at the other end of I thehub; the f pieces beingf supported on' the structuresior movement towardand :Eromt the associatedzstructure, ,theipieces at one end vofAV thehub b'eingg, far enough from. the pieces` at the other end .to receive,superpjosed y convolutions of the i rei hose therebetween; winding;drum. segments substantiallyv parallelto the axisof said hub andtraversing said. interspace; and a pair oflongitudinal radial springsattaching each of said. segments to; said supportingstructuresrefspectivelyy, Y the springs being more remote-from thehubthan; arethesegments; and resilient means interposedl between thehose engaging pieces and the associated supporting structure foryieldably resistingm'ovement of the engaging pieces-ateach end `of thehub from the engaging piecesat the other endv ofthe hub'to allow-` saidre hose between the engaging pieces to expand as soonas water `underpressure commencesI to pass through-the hose.

14'. A hosereel :comprisingra hub; a supporting structuremounted faston'each end ofsaid hub, thefouter part ofieachlyingina planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis ofsaid-hubpsaid structures beingremote from each other; fire hoseengaging pieces associated with and.supported on the respective structures andextend.- ing. in planesperpendicular to said.` axis;Y said pieces` being provided withcontinuous smooth faces, each smoothface at one: end ofthe hub facingtowardfthe. faces atthe/,other end ofithe hub;. the-pieces being;supported on thestrnctures for movement toward andfrom ythe associ. atedstructure,the pieces at one end of the vhub being far enough. from-the;pieces at the. other end: to receive superposed. convolutionsofY thefire hose therebetween; winding,4 drum.. segment membersv substantiallycoaxialrwith thel axis of said hub and traversing said interspace;l anda pair of longitudinal radial springs attaching each of said segmentmembers to said. supporting structures respectively, the springsbeingmore remote from the hub thanisthev segment; t and resilient meansengaging the hoseengagingpieces and allowing y-ieldable movement on therespective. associatedsupporting structures and yield@ ably resistingVmovement of, the. engaging pieces at .each end of the hub .from the.engagingpieces at the other end of the hub toA allowsaid re hosebetween the engagingpieces. to. expand as soon as .-water under pressurecommences to Y pass throughthe hose. i Y JAMES A. CRAIG.

REFERENCES CITED v The following` references are of' recordl inV theieof this patent:

NITED STATES PATENTS:

